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LISTEN: Miley Cyrus defends nudity in 'Wrecking Ball' video

Miley Cyrus is asking critics to consider the artistic merit of her new video for "Wrecking Ball."

In an interview with New York's Z100 Elvis Duran show, the singer is responding to the controversy surrounding her lack of clothing in many of its scenes. Miley says the video is "much more" than the nudity, and is meant to reflect the range of emotions she sings about in the breakup ballad. She says that filming the video was "an emotional experience," even more so than recording it.

Listen to the full interview below:

It was directed by provocative celebrity photographer Terry Richardson, and shows the singer completely nude sitting on a large wrecking ball and suggestively licking a sledgehammer.

Miley says "if people can take their minds off the obvious and go into their imagination" they would see that "it is so vulnerable" and in line with the song's intensity.